No AI - Black-Tie Charity Gala Part 4 3D Render, Digital Artwork by slofkosky

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No AI - Black-Tie Charity Gala (Part 4)

3D Render by slofkosky

Monica sat motionless, her fingers curled loosely around a full glass of red wine. Her eyes, glassy and distant, stayed locked on the crimson color in front of her. She hadn’t moved in minutes.

Ryan circled back, wiping his hands on a bar towel and slowing as he neared her end of the counter.
“I’m heading on my tenhe said gently. “Need anything before I disappear?
She looked up just in time.

Her eyes shimmered, just a breath away from crashing. Whatever had cracked inside her, he’d caught it on the inhale. But instead of asking, instead of pressing, he just stood there with that easy kind smile and that ridiculous knit hat perched slightly askew. It softened the moment.

Monica blinked and tilted her head, coming out of her inner turmoil.

“You knowRyan said, tapping the edge of his hat, “my Grammy made this for me. I told her once the air vent blows straight down where I stand, and voilà! This gnome hat appears. I’m pretty sure she’s knitting six more for the rest of the dwarfs. I mean… bartenders.
Monica let out a breath, almost a laugh. “As long as you don’t start whistling while you workshe responded, a smile tugging at her lips.

Ryan grinned wider fishing a bright red apple from his pocket like a magician with a prop. He held it up in the air, reverent but playful.

“Carefulhe said. “It’s a wishing apple. At least that’s what the witch told me.
Monica raised an eyebrow. “Witch?
“Mm-hmm. Little old lady by the bus stop. Gave it to me for being a ‘good boy’ or something. Very official. He followed up with "we might as well both have our wishes come true."

He gently offered her half.

Monica stared at it, then back at him. The sparkle in his eyes was kindness wrapped in storybook nonsense. A long breath eased out of her lungs, slow and fragile. For the first time that evening, she didn’t feel like crying.

“I guess it’s only fairshe said softly. “The woodland creatures did call me queen.
Ryan chuckled and held her gaze a second longer. He then cut the apple in half, set two plates before sitting down next to her. Not close, but, just enough.

Two strangers, one apple, and maybe if the witch was right... a little magic between Ryan and Monica.

NOTES:---------------
Woot! Woot! I finished another part of the story of Monica, her arse boyfriend, Candy and now Ryan. Just want to finish it... goal line.. look for the goal line!

Decided to really lean into the whole Snow White thing. She needed her goofy, silly, handsome dwarf to show up with the wishing apple. But instead of falling asleep, she's waking up.

Tried so hard to get watery, teary red eyes but I just failed at that. So pretend she has tears welling up at the lower portion of her eyes.

Thank you everyone for being so cool to me and not getting too bored of this story yet.

-Thomas